Instantaneous heater



Jun 1923a c1. 53. M LEAN INSTANTANEOUS HEATER Filed May 18.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES crmanas n. IcLEAN,

OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR lO MECHANICAL do ELECTRICALIANUI'AC'I'URING CO.,. INCORPOBATEIQ, OF BERLIN, NEW HAMP- SHIRE-INSTANTANEOUS HEATER.

Application med Kay 18, 1822. Serial 110. 581,940.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. MOLEAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Berlin, in the county of'Coos and State of 6 New Hampshire,have invented a new and useful Instantaneous Heater, of which thefollowing is a'sp'ecifidation.

My invention, which relates to that class of heating appliances whereinthe 'water or 1 other liquids are confined within a casing and caused,in the passage thereof through the casing, to circulate around and incontact with an electrically energized heating cartridge or unit, seeks'to rovide an improved; heating means of the kind stated,

of a relatively simple and economical construction, one that can bereadily installed, in an inexpensive way, in the house water servicepipe and which is effective and practically instantaneous in action.

Another object of my invention is the provision, ina heating applianceof the character mentioned, of an improved arrangement of the encasingelements for the heating unit proper, whereby to retain the heat withinthe appliance and protect the devlce against/injury during the operationoi assembling the parts thereof and when such parts are in practicaluse.

With other objects in view, that will hereinafter be explained, mypresent invention embodies a quick acting electrically enerized meansfor pre-heating crude oils for urnace purposes and other similarliquids,

as as well as water, that comprises the peculiar features ofconstruction and novel combination of parts, all of which will be fullydetailed in the following explanation. specifically mentioned in theappended claims and 4.0 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved construction of heater inits complete form.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view thereof,

parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a, plan view of a pair of heating units connected in seriesfor being mounted within the encasing elements.

Figure 5 is a side view of one of the heatin units and the casingtherefor.

%igure 6 is a detail view of the outside casing for the heating unit.

Figure 7 is a cross section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 7-7*of Figure 5 with the outside casing shown in Figure 6 in operativearrangement.

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of a modified form of heating unithereinafter specifically referred to.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views of the stuffing box and gland nutmembers hereinafter mentioned.

In the practical development of my present invention, the heating devicein its com-' plete. shape includes a tube or casing 2 within which theheating units, when attheir assembled condition, are contained, as isclearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, from which it will also beobserved that when the parts have been operatively connected within thecasing 2, the ends of such casing are closed by wooden end caps 11, asshown.

The casing 2 is preferably of fibrous or other like materials, whichtend to render the tube moisture proof, electrically nonconductive, andstrong and durable, and for insulating the heating units containedwithin the casing against t e cold outside air and also to retain theheat that radiates from the heating element, the said casing 2 is filledwith oork, or other like substance 18, within which the outside heatingelements are embedded, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 3. Providingthe casing 2 with a filler 18, as stated, the heating elements withinthe casing are protected against injury by contacting shocks or jarsagainst the outside of the casing when the appliance is practicallyapplied.

While a single heating unit constructed in the manner presentldescribed, and as is clearly illustrated in igures 5, 6 and 7, may beused for heating water and other liquids, I prefer to use a lurality ofsuch heating units which may a single pair of units connected in series,as shown in Figure 4, or a larger number of such units connected up inseries in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, in which figuresfour units are shown as operatively connected in series in a manner forcausing "the liquid being heated to pass completely through all fourunits in its course from the inlet through the heating elements and backout through the outlet of the casing 2, as will be presently fullyexplained.

Each heating unit (one of which is best shown in detail inFigures 5, (3and 7, as before mentioned) consists of an inner tube or casing 9 whichis provided with an internal insulating tubular lining 90. Within thetube or casing 9 is contained the heating element proper, which consistsof rod-like end portions 15 -15 that are joined by a spiral shaped body15 whose-outer ends connect with the said portions 15 l5, as shown.

1 The said outer ends 15 -15 of the heating element are threaded toreceive clamp nuts 91 for making the connections with the electricalwire terminals a-7).

Each of the heating units includes an outer casing or water circulatingtube 7 and the said tube 7, for the several heating units, of. whichthey constitute parts, are of less length than their respective innertubes or casings 9 and when connected in series, as shown in thedrawings. the outside tubes 7 have their opposite ends threaded into Tcouplings 6-6, it being understood from Figures 3 and 4 that when theparts that constitute the entireheating appliance are assembled theopposing T couplings 66 at one end are joined by a nipple connection 18.

The inner tubes 9, before referred to, have their ends projected throughthe couplings 66 and to provide for readily joining the circuit wireterminals ab and also for a proper circulation or passing of the wateror other liquid along and around the different heating units, theseveral couplings 6 have their outer ends fitted with stuiiing boxes 4and glands 3, washers 30 being also used in connection with the boxes 4and glands 3 to effect the desired water-tight closure of the parts,

One of the couplings 6, at one end of the complete appliance, has aninlet pipe connectlon 11 and the opposing coupling 6 at the same end hasan outlet pipe connection 12; it being obvious by referring to Figures 2and 3 that the water ,or other liquid that enters the inlet 11 flowsalong through each successive one of the plurality of heating units, andin its thoroughly heated condition, passes from the outlet 12 back intothe service or house supply connection.

In practice, the end caps 1-1 for the main casing are provided withsuitably insulated apertures for the passage of the circuit wires 60-6to their connections with the heating unit.

While the simple form of heating unit shown in Figure 5 is-best adaptedfor heating oils and similar liquids and may be used for heating water,when the appliance is particularly designed as an instantaneous waterheater, the inner tube 9 of each heating unit is provided with anexternal spiral bafiie 99 (see Figure 8) the said spiral baffle causingthe water, as it passes from one end of the unit tp the other, to whirlthrough the water space between the inner and outer tubes 9 and 7 of theunit, the said spiral baffles causing the water to travel in itsmovement toward the outlet of the heater onethird further than it wouldtravel if the surface of the tube 9 were plain.

If the device is to be used for pre-heating oil and other like liquids,the plain surface tubes 9 are preferably used as a part of the heatingunit, but when the device is to be used for heating water, the casing ortube 9 with its spiral bafiies is best suited for such purposes.

From the drawings it will be seen that the heating coil 15 is suitablyinsulated so as to insure against loss of energy or the energizing ofthe liquid, by the insulating tube and end collars 16.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that the complete construction,the manner of its use and the advantages of my present invention will bereadily apparent to those familiar with the construction or the use ofheating appliances of the general type mentioned.

What I claim is:

1. A heating appliance of the character stated com rising twoindependent pairs of heating unlts, each of which units including aheating core and a water passage surrounding the core, means insulatingthe core from the water passage, the several water passages beingarranged in series and in communication and terminating with an inlet atone end and with an outlet at the other end for connection with a supplyor service pipe. I

2. In heating appliances of the character described, a heating unit thatcomprises an inner tube or easing, a heating element that extendsthrough the said tube and has its opposite ends adapted for connectionwith the terminals of an electric circuit, an outer casing thatsurrounds and is spaced apart from the aforesaid inner casing and whichconstitutes the fluid passage, an inlet connected with one end of thesaid passage and an outlet connected with the other end of the saidpassage, the said inner tube having a fluid baffling external surfacethat extends the length thereof.

3. As a new article,a heating unit for instantaneous electric heatingappliances comprising an inner tube, a metal core supported within thesaid inner tube, means for in sulating the said core from the tube, theop posite ends of the core being extended beyond the tube ends, the saidprojected ends having attached means for connecting them to theterminals of an electric circuit, an outer casing that surrounds theinner casing, the said outer casing being held spaced apart from theinner casing whereby to provide a fluid passage between the two cas--ings, and an intake and outlet in communication with the said fluidpassage.

4. As a new'article, a heating unit for instantaneous electric heatingappliances comprising an inner tube, a metal core supported within thesaid inner tube, means for insulating the said core from the tube, theop posite ends of the core being attached beyond the tube ends, the saidprojected ends having attached means for connecting them to theterminals of an electric circuit, an outer casing that surrounds theinner casing, the said outer casing being held spaced apart from theinner casing whereby to provide a fluid passage between the two casings,an intake and outlet in communication with the said fluid passage, acontainer within which the said heating unit is held, the ends of thesaid container being apertured for the passage therethrough of theaforesaid inlets and outlets to the fluid passage of the heater.

5. In an instantaneous heating appliance of the character described, aheating element comprising a core, an inner casing that surrounds thecore, means for insulat ing the said inner casing from the core, thelatter having its opposite ends projected beyond the said casing andadapted for being electrically connected with the terminals of anenergizing circuit, an outer casing within which the inner casing iscontained, the said inner and outer casings being spaced apart toprovide a fluid passage that ex tends the length of the outer casings,said passage being provided with an intake and exhausting connectionthat join with the op posin ends of the said fluid passage.

6. 11 an instantaneous heating appliance of the character described, aplurality of heating units connected in series, the said series of unitshaving an inlet and an outlet for connecting with a fluid service pipe,each heating unit including an inner tubular casing and a heating corecontained within and insulated from the said inner casing, the 0ppositeends of the said core extending beyond the ends of their respectiveinner tube, outer tubular casings, one of said outer casings surroundingeach inner tubular casing and union joints that connect the ends of theouter tubular casings with each other whereb to provide for a continuouspassa e of the uid from the inlet end to the out et ends of the saidfluid passages between the tubes, the outer projected ends of the coreextending beyond the union joints and having attached means for couplingup with the terminals of an electric circuit.

7 In an instantaneous heating appliance of the character described, aplurality of heating units connected in series, the said series of unitshaving an inlet and an outlet for connecting with a fluid service pipe,each heating unit including an inner tubular casing and a heating corecontained within and insulated from the said inner casing, the oppositeends of the said core extending beyond the ends of their respectiveinner tube, outer tubular casings, one of said casings surrounding eachinner tubular casing and union joints that connect theends of the outertubular casings with each other whereby to provide for a continuouspassage of the fluid from the inlet end to the outlet ends of the saidfluid passages between the tubes, the outer projected ends of the coreextending beyond the union joints and having attached means for couplingup with the terminals of an electric circuit, and a container withinwhich the heating elements are mounted.

8. In an instantaneous heating appliance of the character described, aplurality of heating units connected in series, the said series of unitshaving an inlet and an outlet for connecting with a fluid service pipe,each heating unit including an inner tubular casing and a heating corecontained within and insulated from the said inner casing, the oppositeends of the said core extending beyond the ends of their respectiveinner tube, outer tubular casings, one of said outer casings surroundingeach inner tubular casing and union joints that connect the ends of theouter tubular casings with each other whereby to provide for acontinuous passage of the fluid from the inlet end to the outlet ends ofthe said fluid passages between the tubes, the outer projected ends ofthe core extending beyond the union joints and having attached means forcoupling up with the terminals of an electric circuit, a containerwithin which the heating elements are mounted, and a cork filler in thecontainer within which the heating elements are embedded.

CHARLES D. McLEAN.

